Navy KIA who died in Norwegian waters.

This pair was pulled out of the woodwork from an antique dealer nearly ten years ago. It has changed hands a couple of times since then and now has come back to me and I'm very pleased to have it in hand and learn more of the story!
This Navy Purple Heart and Norwegian War Medal were presented posthumously to Seaman First Class Mason Kirby Burr USN from Lansdowne, PA who died when the merchant ship SS Henry Bacon was sunk off the coast of Norway. The SS Henry Bacon was transporting survivors from the Norwegian village of Soroya to hoped for safety.
On February 23, 1945...the same day as the famed Iwo Jima flag raising by US Marines, the crew of the U.S. liberty ship SS Henry Bacon performed another heroic act. In the blistering cold of the North Atlantice, the crew saved 19 Norwegian refugees while losing 15 of their own crewmembers, including Seaman Mason Kirby Burr.
The SS Henry Bacon was attacked by 23 German Junkers Ju88's, they succeeded in downing five before being sunk by one last torpedo. The Bacon has the distinction of not only downing more German aircraft (5) than any other liberty ship, but of being the last Liberty ship sunk by German aircraft during WWII.
The events of the SS Henry Bacon are recorded in the book, "THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE SS HENRY BACON". Mason Burr's story is found throughout the book. One excerpt from the book records the S.S. Bacon being hit by a torpedo from one of the last remaining Ju 88's. "The Luftwaffe crew of the Ju-88 that scored the hit paid the full price immediately as the plane was caught in the crossfire between the portside machine guns manned by Mason Burr and Frank Reid."
Seaman Burr had the opportunity to be saved on a life raft, but gave up his seat to man his gun in the event of strafing by the Luftwaffe. Burr, Reid, and another sailor remained at thier guns until the last minute, diving into the frigid waters as the last men off well after the lifeboats had departed. Seaman Burr was killed as the ship disintegrated around him.

Also included in the book "THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE SS HENRY BACON" is a photo of Mason Burr's Sister being presented the Norwegian War Medal by Rear Adm. Edwin P. Foster, USN.

Four and a half years later in Oct. of 1949, Burr's body washed ashore on the coast of Norway entombed in ice. Buried with honor by the Norwegians it was returned to the United States for internment in his home town. The Russian and Norwegian governments have honored the ship and it's crew for saving their citizens at the cost of their own. Within the United States the Governor of Massachusetts declared Feb. 23, 1992 as "SS HENRY BACON DAY".

[paddywhack]

the crew of the ship were true heroes! amazing that 4 years later his body turned up entombed in ice! a very nice little and very specail group to have!